Frequently asked questions
Please reach out to us at 0606318318 if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Ferret kits (babies) are R2500 each.
R1000 to book a baby + R1500 payable when collecting your booked baby.
We are situated in Wonderboom South, Pretoria.
Bookings are R1000 (subtracted from the total amount of R2500) and R1500 payable when collecting your baby.
(R1000 + R1500 = R2500)
If you want to book a baby, you must send a WhatsApp directly to 0606318318 to enquire about the specific baby you are interested in and get the banking details to secure your chosen kit.
As soon as proof of payment is received, we mark the kit as "booked" on the website and once money reflects in our account that means that we and the new owner has an agreement. The specific baby has been reserved and is no longer available to other clients.
Deposits are not refundable due to a change of mind.
Alternatively, you can pay the lump sum when collecting an available baby. We do not reserve a baby however without a booking (deposit) and you would have to contact us again on the day you would like to collect to make sure the baby is still available.
Unfortunately not.
Babies are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
We do not reserve a baby for anyone without a holding deposit.
Holding deposit = R1000.00 and R1500 payable when collecting your baby. (Total = R2500)
The deposit is not refundable due to a change of mind.
It is however refundable in the unlikely event, that your chosen ferret kit passes away, while in our care and we do not have any other ferret kits available at the time, from which you may choose from.
You may collect your baby from 7 weeks of age, at our premises in Pretoria, in person or you may arrange with a pet courier service to transport your baby to you.
Either way you would need to provide a cat carrier to ensure safe traveling, a drinking bottle for water, (one that hamsters use will be suitable), bedding and if you are traveling far you should bring a small bowl with kitten dry food.
If you do not provide a cat carrier, drinking bottle, bedding and dry kitten food and a bowl, we will provide these to you at an additional cost of R350 for the carrier, R100 for a water bottle, R100 for a small mattress and R35 for the bowl and dry food, which is payable and is reflecting in our bank account, before your baby may leave our premises.
* You can book a baby to make 100% sure you will get one; this also applies when you want a specific gender and/or colour.
Bookings are a R1000 and R1500 is payable upon collecting your baby. (R2500 total)
* You also have the option to choose from the babies that has not yet been booked by other clients and pay the lump sum when collecting that baby.
Photos will be posted onto our Facebook page, Facebook group and here on our website of the babies that are still available and you may also enquire per WhatsApp.
PLEASE NOTE: No babies will be reserved without booking, therefore always contact us again, on the day that you want to come and collect, to confirm that the specific baby your are interested in, is still available.
The most important thing to take note of:
MAKE SURE TO DO AN IMMEDIATE PAYMENT IF YOU ARE BANKING WITH ANOTHER BANK.
* If you want to do an EFT, (while you are at our premises or up to 4 days prior to collection yourself or via courier), but you are not banking with ABSA, and you do a payment as a normal payment, be it by mistake or intentionally; You will not receive your baby while you are here, you will leave empty handed unfortunately, proof of payment will not be considered adequately. This also applies when you are using a pet courier. You wont believe, but there are actual people that try and get ferrets without paying for them. Some have tried but luckily they have never succeeded with us.
We will then inform you, once the payment has reflected in our account, (anytime between 1 and 3 working days, as this is the standard time it takes between two different banks) and then only will you be able to revisit or arrange courier again, to collect your baby and take your little one home.
********* NO EXCEPTION WILL BE MADE FOR ANYBODY. *********
* If you do not want to pay extra for an immediate payment at your bank, you may pay for your baby in cash.
You may arrange your own courier, however we do not take any responsibility for the well-being of your ferret once it leaves our premises.
Your baby needs to be fully paid for, before we can hand it over to the pet courier.
You should also arrange with the courier to provide a cat carrier to ensure safe traveling, as well as a drinking bottle for water (one that hamsters use will be suitable), and something soft to sleep on, for the duration of the ride. Anytime your ferret will be on the road for longer than 4 hours, you would need to provide dry kitten food and a small bowl as well.
If there isn't a cat carrier, a drinking bottle, something soft to sleep on, and/or dry kitten food with a bowl provided, when the courier arrives, we will provide these for your baby, at an additional cost of R350 for the carrier, R100 for the water bottle, R100 for a small foam mattress, and R35 for food and a bowl, which is payable by you and needs to be cleared in our bank account, before your baby may leave our premises.
PLEASE NOTE:
If we cannot reach you while the courier is at our premises, to inform you of the absence of the carrier, drinking bottle, bedding, food and a bowl, we will not hand over your baby ferret to the courier and you will need to reschedule collection with the courier service and pay the additional cost that they may charge.
We are not putting ferret babies in a cardboard box for transportation! These are live animals and will be treated with respect.
PLEASE NOTE: NO EXCEPTION WILL BE MADE FOR ANYONE.
Both genders are amazing.
The only difference is the males will grow to be twice the size and weight of the females.
Keep in mind, if you want a female, she needs to be sterilized at 4-5 months of age and you would need to set aside money for sterilization.
No males do not spray or mark like male cats or dogs do.
Ferrets are obligate carnivores, which means they must eat meat.
Raw meat is the best option, including whole prey.
The carbohydrates and vegetable protein found in most fruit and vegetables can make your ferret sick.
Do not give your ferret fruit and vegetables.
Your ferret's diet should primarily consist of meat, meat, and more meat.
Ferrets can eat the following raw (previously thawed) meat:
1. Chicken meat, wings, stripped carcasses, gizzards, necks, and hearts
2. Chicken liver (small piece and only once a week)
3. Turkey necks
4. Rabbit meat
5. Frozen rats and mice (thaw before giving)
6. Minced beef
7. Lamb
8. Offal
9. Raw egg (once a week)
For treats, you can give freeze-dried raw meats like beef liver, chicken, and turkey.
You can give your ferret any high % protein kitten pellets.
Your baby has been raised on Ultra Cat Optimal balance kitten that contains 40% protein and a variety of meats.
You can continue feeding your baby the same kibble or switch over to another high-quality dry kitten food with the main ingredient being meat together with a well balanced raw meat diet.
A ferret's dry food diet should consist of 32 – 38% protein and 15 – 20% fat.
Once weekly give a raw egg accompanied by salmon oil (1000mg) or omega 3 and 6 capsules – one capsule, make an opening in the capsule, and pour over food. Discard the capsule afterward.
Your baby needs to eat 3 meals a day.
Note your baby will eat at least 2 portions of meat at each meal in the beginning and as the baby grows you will have to add more.
Example of a menu for your kit:
* 1 chicken heart and 1 gizzard in the morning.
* Hand full of high-protein kitten pellets in the afternoon.
* 1 chicken neck and 1 chicken heart at night.
After a week you can add 1 neck etc.
Every baby is different so please see to your own baby’s portion sizes and adjust accordingly. Never overfeed your ferret baby!
All foods are given raw – nothing cooked, just thawed.
Note no live animals should be given to your ferret; frozen rats can be bought at a pet shop and thawed before being given.
When getting your baby ferret ensure a wide variety of these foods listed above; if not your baby will grow into a fuzzy eater later on.
Vaccinations are not being administered routinely to ferrets as none in South Africa has proven safe for them thus far.
Your local exotic veterinarian will advise you accordingly, depending on the area you reside.
Your vet will make an exception for some vaccinations, including the rabies vaccination; if you stay in a high-risk area with lots of wildlife around that can transfer rabies and other viruses to your ferret.
They will explain the risks and thereafter you can make an informed decision.
Please make sure your other pets are fully vaccinated against all illnesses, including rabies.
Always supervise your ferret with other animals and do not allow animals or other people's pets near your ferret, if you do not know their current vaccination status.
Rabies is fatal to humans and animals if caught.
You would need to find a vet that sees exotic animals in your area.
Thus goes for sterilization as well.
A normal vet would not be able to sterilize your baby.
So make sure you know which vet you can visit and if you don’t have an exotic vet in your town, rather take a male that doesn’t need sterilization.
Female ferrets should be sprayed at 4-5 months of age.
This will prevent the often fatal estrogen-induced bone marrow suppression.
Females keep on producing estrogen and stay in heat when not mated causing their body to become ill and eventually be fatal.
Males may also be neutered at the age of 7 months.
Only exotic vets will be able to do this procedure, so make sure you have an exotic vet available in your area, especially when choosing a female.
Bathing tends to dry out the skin and coat, at most bathe once a week.
Unless your ferret has gotten into something that needs to be washed off.
Use a mild baby shampoo like Johnson’s and Johnson’s.
An oatmeal soak will do wonders to help moisturize their coat.
Ferrets are not fond of water so make sure they are not bathed for extended period of time to lessen their stress levels.
Grooming can be done with a brush you would use on a cat or dog.
Do not shave your ferret unless there is an extreme heat wave coming or you stay in an extremely hot area.
No
You will not need a permit to keep a ferret as a pet.
They were banned in South Africa a couple of years ago as they were thought to be an invasive species. Thus could not be proven as one does not simply find wild ferrets in South Africa and the statement was withdrawn.
However please note they are still prohibited in the Western Cape.
Children:
Just like any other animal they need to get used to their new family and environment.
If you have kids make sure that they are interacting with each other at a young age. Always under supervision.
Your ferret will grow up knowing all members of the family and therefore will be familiar with your children.
Other pets:
They will get used to any other animal that they grow up with.
Small animals are not advised as they are natural predators and could easily kill another animal especially ones smaller or equivalent in size compared to them. Overseas they are used to hunt rabbits and rats etc. It is advisable to always supervise them with other smaller pets.
Although people have them with other small species of animals it is a risk that needs to be taken on your own!
It's not always an easy task in the beginning, but yes, it is very possible to litter box train a ferrets.
Our babies are being trained to do their business in a cat litter pan.
We use cat litter pellets; try and get the same, as your baby is used to these.
Please note: We sell 15KG bags for R150.
Repetition is key, your baby is still learning this life long skill, please keep this in mind - do not smack your baby when they mistakenly did their business anywhere but the litter box.
Continue to get your ferret in the habit of going to the litter box first thing when he/she gets up. Wake him/her up while he/she is still in his/her hammock, and physically place him/her in the cage litter box. Once he/she has gone, praise him/her. Do that a couple of times a day for about a week, and it will go smooth.
Usually ferrets like to relieve themselves in corners, and they don't usually go where they eat or sleep, therefore placing a cat litter box in a corner is a must.
Absolutely not!
Due to their curious nature, ferrets are great escape artists.
All holes, no matter how small, leading to inaccessible areas MUST be blocked off to prevent escape or injury. If the ferret can put his head into it, the body will fit too.
Ferrets can climb brick surface walls. And when they do get out they will not find their way back, they don’t have that sense as cats do.
They are picked up when spotted by other people and you will rarely get your baby back.
Dot sure insures all exotic animals and you can insure your ferret with them.
Yes, you may…
If you start with only one, you can always get another later on.
Just remember:
*Two males can live together if your first male is neutered.
Later you can neuter your younger male when he turns 7 months old.
*Two females can live together (both sprayed)
*Male and female can live together if both are sterilized.
Golden rule:
If your ferret is going to be caged: a minimum of 4 hours of outside time (free supervised roaming outside of the cage) per day should be offered.
Cage size should never be less than 1mx1m, the bigger the cage the better.
Ferrets do best with fleece hammocks and accessories put in their cage for sleeping.
Do not put in wood shavings etc. as this can cause a respiratory infection.
Check your cage bedding accessories regularly to see that it has not been damaged by your ferret; this can cause your baby to get stuck and injure him/herself trying to get loose, your baby can also strangle in strings of damaged bedding causing injury and death.
Toys:
Cat Toys
Most cat toys can also be ferret toys!
Crinkle sacks are popular due to the fun noise they make, and so are tunnels. Foiled air-conditioning ducting pipes can be used and can be found at Builders warehouse.
Clear ducting pipes can be bought at Chick Henderson.
Balls or toy mice that contain a bell will catch your ferret’s interest, as will a wand with a toy attached.
Many ferrets also like to climb scratching towers, but should always be supervised, as often they will try to jump once they get to the top.
Never leave any toys with your ferret if there are small parts that they can chew off and swallow as well as any toy that has a string attached to it.
Dog Toys
Many dog toys can be ferret toys too!
A small Kong can be filled with meat, an egg yolk, or kitten pellets, to give them a challenge.
Squeaky toys are also a huge hit, but anything made from rubber should not be used without supervision. (Ferrets love to chew and swallow rubber things!)
*** Always supervise your ferret when they are playing with a new toy, and don’t leave toys with your ferret unsupervised unless you’re sure that they are safe ***
Never give your ferret toilet paper rolls to play with they will get stuck and this could lead to blood circulation cut off and death.
Always cut off strings on toys, those are strangulation hazards.
Copyright © 2016 Anemone ferretry - All Rights Reserved.
Ferrets in Pretoria Ferret breeder in South Africa
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.